God's busy

I guess these stories mean more to me now that I have a son(headed in June) and a nephew(currently serving) in the military. I thought this was pretty funny. Not sure it's(actually pretty sure it isn't) true, but still makes me smile. I do think God works in many ways and I doubt if God read this He would mind it being told:)The title? "God's Busy"


A United States Marine was attending some college courses
between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and
Afghanistan . One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed
atheist and a member of the ACLU .

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in he
looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, 'God, if you are real, then
I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15
minutes.' The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.

Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, 'Here I am
God. I'm still waiting.' It got down to the last couple of minutes
when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and
cold-cocked him, knocking him off the platform. The professor was out
cold.

The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The
other students were shocked, stunned, and sat there looking on in
silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked
at the Marine and asked, 'What the heck is the matter with you? Why
did you do that?' The Marine calmly replied, 'God was too busy today
protecting American soldiers who are protecting your right to say
stupid stuff and act like an idiot. So, He sent me.'

perfect north

Perfect North is where my boys are this weekend. Caleb, Jacob and John went with the senior high youth group at church. I am sure they have had a great time!

The gift of life.

I stumbled upon this today. I have always been (most people who read my blog are likely tired of hearing) a HUGE believer in perspective. Mostly, I love people who have it. I love seeing those who persevere, who love the Lord and do BOTH in the midst of worldly trials. The video above is likely one of the sweetest tributes I have seen. What a blessing a newborn baby is to this world. What a blessing parents are to a child. How great God's love is for his children. How sweet heaven will be!!

One Week!

One week is the amount of time between now and the trip to Mexico. The trip I get to go on ALONE (lol...that is the wonderful-fun-incredible-much needed part)with Scott.

A lot has to happen this week. We have to have the court decision behind us or we will not be able to go. This is a company (aka...won by Scott's hard work and free, but only at this time) trip. Over the years we have so been blessed to have an annual trip together. I think we have only missed two. One for Jacob's birth and another a few years ago. I really hope to have this one!

Emotionally Scott and I are running on fumes. The other day I was laying beside him and whispered, "I am so stressed I feel like I might have a heart attack." Scott without missing a beat said, "I feel the same way." Quiet words. Words we really do not speak about. It is the first time we have actually let them leave our lips. We KNOW there could be worst trials. We KNOW this and yet these are among the worst we have ever dealt with. Neither of us are crazy-off-the-charts-emotionally, I think we are pretty calm, reasonable, do-what-you-have-to-do-without-looking-back kind of people. These last two months have been hard. Coupled with our "normal" its just a lot.

This week needs to bring a settled feeling to our decision with Zack and a smooth transition into leaving.

This picture was taken last year in the Domincan Republic. It is so easy to find peace in paradise:)


This year? We will be staying in Cancun Mexico and our peace will look a little like this:

Gone Hunting!

"Gone Hunting!" was the text that accompanied this picture. Sarah and her friend Stella are in Mississippi squirrel hunting this weekend:) Very funny and at the same time slightly scary!

1 + 2 = 3

There have been many monkey attacks in the past....here and here and most recently here. They show us the consequence of taking animals out of the wild, of thinking they are human, of thinking we can change what God has created.

John Redden, our friend and counselor, talked to Sam about this on Monday. I am using his model, the very one we use to help Sam (and our children too).

1 + 2 = 3 A simple equation. But aren't the simple things in life usually the best? It is a Cause/Response/Effect equation. In animals there is only Cause/Effect. No response, they are animals. The monkey that recently attacked the woman? Cause? You have a wild monkey in your home.Effect? Nearly a life lost. Man responds uniquely to the cause. We see a cause and can choose our response. John uses 1+2 because he had a boy tell him it should be 2 because your response is twice as important as the cause. TRUE!! The effect is what we choose.

You can see the cause + _____ = effect and fill it in to meet your desires. You wish to get snack money for school? Cause (desire for snack) + ______ = effect (the money). Simple...chores. It works every time. I am not sure why Tasha was so surprised this morning that her desire for a snack was not appeased by her demand(well, her whining desires that were not coupled with respect, nor negotiation, just whine).

I hope that someday my Samuel will make his day by choosing the consequence (effect) first. I do realize that is a totally adult logic thing(but some kids are smarter than adults...lol...or at least they claim to be). But not all adults do it either, so I will spend twice as much time on our responses, because they are twice as important!!

By way of "PS" Our court date was moved once again to Monday at 10am. We are praying that it will be heard then.

before

Before we began building (I like that word...it is intentful, intentional) our family we had "only" four children. Four children in four years. My grandmother was home (aka..retired) and she was such a tremendous part of our lives. When we lived way out in the country (lol..25 miles from no where) hers was the house we hung out at until dance was over or karate or ball practices. She always had cokes, something I rarely allowed my children to have. She would throw out a blanket on the floor and they feasted on Little Debbie's and coke while watching TV....something else we didn't have until my children were all older. We did have have a TV, and movies of mom choice, but no cable. She picked my children up from school, would drive through and get them chicken nuggets and let them individually hang out with her. No one ever complained that they didn't have a happy meal. Granny couldn't afford a happy meal and they were just thankful for the nuggets. I think all my children's first real adventure to the post office was with her. She took time and allowed them to drop the mail in the slot, she didn't care how long it took. A grandmother. A grandmothers love. I hope to be just like her. I hope I can breeze in and play and leave the love behind that she did.

She has always loved me too:) I know she loved us all, all her grandchildren. As a young mother, actually until we moved to town my my boys got "big", I always did the mowing. My grandmother would come(even to the middle of no where) and let me mow as she sat through nap time with my children. She would do that. Drive all that way and not even spend all the time with me (or the kids, they would usually sleep through most of it). She was invaluable to me as a young mother, she is still invaluable to me. She knows all the stories of my past, most times better than me. I love that. I sure do love her!!

She lovingly (and I do mean that) watched us build our family, knowing it would take huge hunks of my time. She loved me through it all. So when she asked for this picture, she was so worried about my thoughts, my feelings. "Amanda, will it upset you if I ask for a picture of your first 4? If it will, don't worry about it. I love all your children. But when people ask, I want to be able to say it start here." Above is the picture. No feelings hurt. It is the truth. Our family began with these 4 children. Now? As May approaches I will only have Jacob left at home. How crazy is that? I love them dearly, as I do all my children.

I laugh thinking about all the misconceptions of "who" is "real". I think Granny really wanted it because no one believes her..lol. My girls are as different as can be. I have three blonds: Sarah, Rosie and Victoria....almost always they are put as "I KNOW these are sisters!". I always smile and agree, they are certainly sisters, though not through birth. I think Granny wanted people to realize she really does know what she's talking about. In the nursing home now, turning 86 in two weeks, she is sharp as a tack! But, so many assume that is not the case.

SO, I have had this picture printed for Granny's picture wall. The foundation of our parenting:) It was a nice beginning and these children are the reason we desired more. Each child we have brings a uniqueness, a perspective that no other has. It's a God thing and I am so grateful:)

Ronald Reagan

Me? I love insightful people. They are truly a gift to others. Scott sent me this today and I found the quotes very insightful (and even funny and sad).

'Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.'- Ronald Reagan


'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Ronald Reagan


'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' - Ronald Reagan


'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.'
- Ronald Reagan


'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.' - Ronald Reagan


'The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.'
- Ronald Reagan


'Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.'
- Ronald Reagan

'The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.' - Ronald Reagan


'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.' - Ronald Reagan


'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.' - Ronald Reagan


'Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.' - Ronald Reagan


'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'- Ronald Reagan



'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation goneunder.'- Ronald Reagan

It's official...

It's official....I am getting old:) Above is my new friends....left lens and right lens. I need them both. I have even decided I need one of those cool (lol...so NOT cool) necklaces that hold them so they can hang around my neck. Today as I studied for my class tonight I was constantly either needing them or looking for them. I do wonder though...how can something that is so important for me to read with be so blurry if I look up? I have tried the bi-focals, but I am just not diligent enough for them to work well.

As I studied though I thought about the manner in which I use them....they have an exact purpose. They do one thing and only one thing. No multi-tasking. But sometimes we desperately need to be single minded. To have a single purpose in our sights. Isn't that what Christians should be?? Single minded? That is one of the reasons I love my glasses. The clarity of my vision through them is excellent and the rest of the world just blurs away (ha ha...literally). But, I can take them off, look around, do chores, work, drive and live my life, but for focus?? I need only to slide them on.

Sometimes we really do loose our focus. I have lost those silly glasses at times....it isn't funny! This week I have lived a blurry life. Seems it is just flying past, all blurry and very fast!

On Sunday Jacob drove me (I love a cheerful helper) to Memphis. I had a family session with Zackery. We talked once again (it seems our sessions have revolved around court for the last month) about what is going to happen. Once again I talked through the concretes and the not so concretes and the have no clues. An hour of rehash and re chew. Due to the court dates and need I have been every week to Memphis. I took these pictures Sunday. Jacob and Zack and Zack alone. His coat looks sad. Last week when I was there he, in anger (which he labeled as "when I got off task") he ripped the hood and collar portion from the coat, well it was hanging down like a scarf. This week someone had obviously cut it off. One of Zack's big issues during his stay has been ripping up his clothes. That is a new and unique to his current placement issue.




Monday morning I had to be in Memphis again to take Sam to his Doctors appointment with Dr Goldin. I love our Doctor, he just isn't God and thus cannot fix things that are broken. Thank goodness he can make them better, or at very least he puts for a supreme effort to help!

We have had ballgames and normal craziness going on right along side the tough. It's life. My friend Gretchen texted me that she was praying for "just one week without drama" for me. You know I laughed thinking, while this is sad and upsetting, it is not really dramatic to me. I think I must be de-synthesized!

Last night I spent 4 hours at the ER with Bella. She cut her foot in the kitchen. Sam was cleaning (meaning dragging out and moving everything around) in the pantry. Isabella stepped on a Christmas tree cookie cutter. Doesn't that just beat all?? Bella in the Kitchen with a Cookie Cutter...sounds a little like Clue. Just not nearly as much fun.

Chelsea was home tonight for a short short time. Long enough to have all the kids (boys included) doing cheer leading jumps. Hurkeys and toe touches and Bambi's and pikes and who knows whats. Seth asked Chelsea as he attempted a jump, "was that a turkey Chelsea?" Straight-faced she replied it sure was a turkey!! Mister ego "I got a turkey right" marched to the van for church with a big smile on his face:)

I almost didn't even sit down to blog tonight. I really hate when I get behind. I seem to have a hard time finding an opening. Today I was in the High School checking on one of my Seniors who commented, "I don't need that class to graduate!" Imagine my surprise ...not really surprise...when I found out he HAS TO HAVE IT to graduate(Thank you for your help Andrea!). I have another goofy Senior suffering tragically from a very early onset of Senioritist. To add to that, my dishwasher broke (I only have one and that is very very serious), one of my washing machines broke. It matters not that I have 3 more. That's like telling someone, "I'm sorry your leg is broken, but at least you have another leg and two arms!" Each part has their job and my laundry is serious compromised (lol..as if it wasn't already) without a full team effort. My van window is leaking, right above the steering wheel. It drips straight down between my legs to the floor, unless it is really raining and then it soaks my pant leg. Today it was raining. I printed my class notes off and even with my cool totally focused glasses I cannot see nearly invisible print, so I had to go to Wal-Mart (on a day I didn't even need to go to Wal-Mart on) and buy more ink so I could actually read the notes I prepared. Some days just come this way. I decided I should blog this one away and start anew another day.

Tomorrow we will be in court about Zack. It is our hope and prayer that the decisions made are good ones: good for Zack, our family and community.

Looks can be decieving.

Looks really can be deceiving. In the midst of this court things with Zack I have to reiterate that Scott and I never saw a single picture of this sibling group until AFTER we decided to take them. Not once. Appearances are deceiving, they mislead, they are lies. We talked to the lawyer the other day and Scott said we were naive when we took this tough group. "We thought we could do anything". I really didn't think that ht, but I did think that the information was a little extreme for a 6,7 and 8 year old. I could not imagine(and most clinical individuals will agree) that a 5 year old was bi-polar. YES I knew they had behavior issues, yet I think "PollyAnna-ish" might be the proper word. We have an heavenly, literally, church family. We have such an incredible town! Such a great community. We are surrounded by the ultimate(in my mind)support group. That is for "normal/average" kids, which we felt these kids could be with love and structure. THAT though was naive. We had yet to face children who had such losses. We had not witnessed the profound loss of a child whose mother drank and did drugs. We now have. Looks can be deceiving.

Above is Sam, the youngest of my tough trio. This picture, taken this morning, reminds me of the cute little cross-eyed kid in the movie Dennis the Menace. Remember him? SO cute. Sam can be cute. Sam can be kind. Sam can feel remorse. Sam can be a good helper. Sam can be obstinate, disrespectful, lying, stealing, fit-throwing, destructive, and violent little boy at times too. His brain is wired all wrong! Wired by drugs and alcohol in-vetro. It is terribly sad, it is a tragedy, it is so hard and yet he still has to be held accountable for his actions. That is life. That is reality.

Below are pictures of his room. THIS is the only one of the trio at home currently. The "safest" child. Looks sure can be deceiving, yet sometimes you just have to look a little deeper and you see the "fruit" being produced. We have been told that Sam will not live independently, tough to hear. More important to me that where he lives is HOW he lives. My prayers are that something we do will be successful!!

ballgames and a wedding

We had two ballgames today, baseball registration, a few meals(lol) and a very nice wedding. One of Chelsea's classmates, we actually two of them, married tonight. It was such a beautiful wedding!! I took this picture of Scott and my little people (who seem to keep getting bigger!) as we were headed out the door.

Star gazing

Sarah and Stuart are both in for the night. A joy for my little kids. They love their big sisters and brothers! I took this tonight as Sarah had a star gazing party going on in the driveway. Music, Stars and freezing temps:) They LOVED it!!

Cheerleading Tryouts

Once again this time of year has come. Mercedez and Tasha both brought home cheer leading tryout forms. They filled them out, Scott and I signed them and wrote a $30 check to the school. Tryouts will be the first week of March. We will see how this goes:)

Math

I am so so so so so so so so (is that enough to prove my point?) thankful for a husband/daddy who loves math! Scott transferred that love to several of our biggies, with Sarah even considering majoring in math (gasp!). Mom? Me? (quietly) I hate math! I watched tonight as Scott so patiently helped Mary and I could remember many many nights at the table with my math loving daddy (who bless his heart was stuck with me!). I struggled through Algebra I, II and Geometry...calling it quits asap:) It's not that I can't actually do 5th grade work (I have to grade it pretty regularly), I just don't love it and speak it with the same ease as Scott. This is one of the 1001 reasons I love my husband!

Jokers

Tonight my little boys were on a joke spree. They were so very impressed with Jacob's jokes!!


Why do sharks like salt water?
Because pepper water makes them sneeze.

What is the tallest building?
The Library. It has the most stories.

Why did the chicken cross the playground?
He wanted to get to the other slide.

What kind of dreams do horses have?
NightMares

What flower grows between your toes and your forehead?
TU-lips

What do planets read?
Comet books

WHat goes up and down and doesn't move?
Stairs

How do you make a tissue dance?
Put a little boogie in it.

An hour in court.

Court went as well as we could hope for. We had the very nice support of good friends who went with us and a lawyer who petitioned exactly as we needed. We will be working to get Zack placed in DCS custody and hope to have it taken care of by next Wed or we will be back in court doing so. We have really had a hard time getting DCS to even talk to us. Thank God (and it WAS God), that was worked through and at the judges strong suggestion they will be working to settle this out of court. Keep it in your prayers please.

Heritage??

I followed a car the other day that had this bumper sticker:



Heritage. Not Hate.

I thought about it all the way to Memphis. I disagree. Some heritages DO cause people to have Hatred. Think about it:

Apartheid
Holocaust
Eugenics
Fascist
Pedophile
Rapist
Murderer


"Words can incite hatred or inspire greatness"

"Fighting words" don't even have First Amendment protection. We all recognize the antagonism they push upon others.

I think about the Bible characters who show us examples of imperfection. David's children's children did not run around wearing shirts that said, "Adultery. Heritage. Not hate." Paul certainly did not wear shirts with pictures of Christians be stoned that read "Stoning. Heritage. Not hate." Doesn't that just sound stupid? Likely because it is. We read and understand each of those men's history. We see the repentance of their hearts. We know they were not proud of that history. But they learned from it.

It's really hard to put aside sin and still relish it. I think that's what people with the Rebel flag are doing...just relishing. Not learning. I as much as anyone love history. I see a Rebel flag and I do understand. Just as surely as Paul persecuted Christians, thinking he was right, we see those in history fighting so many times for causes hindsight proves poor. I don't hate those people who thought they were fighting for the right. I am sorry they were ignorant of the importance of equality. African Americans were not the only ones without rights in those days....any woman was without rights as well. Hard times. People truly knew not what they were doing. If they did know? I know and trust God to settle those affairs.


In ending(to my soapbox stompin') I like this, found in an article written by SV Bosak: "If words can hurt, they can also heal." It is not Heritage that makes us great....it is the knowledge we take from our past that brings us to a better today! I tell my children all the time to use their words. Words are indeed powerful. In the words of a man who looked to the change of Americans hearts and hearts everywhere....we have the words I love "I have a dream....".

a party, a ballgame, a devo and a wreck

Last night we had a busy schedule going. The Valentine party at the nursing home with Granny had been rescheduled due to sickness and I was to meet Dad and Clara Ruth at 6pm. Isabella, Mary and Victoria had a basketball game at 6:45 that Scott was taking them too (and Sam was going along). Doug had the 4 little boys at home and John was taking the three middle school girls to devo at the church building. A couple of things going on:)

I forgot my camera and Rosie, Mercedez and Tasha brought it to me at the party (thus the neat picture above). In the midst of scattered people my John, who took the little girls to devo, decided to take that opportunity to slide off to his girlfriends house(without asking first). Very surprising behavior from John. I came in from the Valentine party and was in my room when John called. I thought he was in the house, but he was not. He, on the way home he wrecked, flipping the car three times. The car is totaled. Totally. He walked away barely hurt. An accident that many do not walk away from. The first serious incident for us. We are 8 deep in young drivers and John (#8) is our first to have such an accident. The consequences are pretty steep. John borrowed money for his car and has officially made ONE payment. He will now make those payments for a long time with no car in sight. John was the first of our children to not have to drive the old red mini van. John bought his car before his 16th birthday and was intending to skip that old red honor. Now it appears he will be praying for the longevity of the red van, for it will now be his only transportation.

In the midst of a crazy for us week, we are so blessed to have John safe. Consequences, of course, but surely God was with him last night! SO goodbye to the beloved Mazda and hello old red.

Thankful

How thankful I am for a variety of great guys! I am thankful they are not all the same. I KNOW my little kids are thankful too!! My big guys bring unique skills....unique fun to the family.

Doug pictured above is an all around athlete, but loves baseball (or as pictured waffle ball). He had the kids busy with several game over the long weekend. It makes me so thankful for him!! For his spirit of leadership and love!! Cause you know not many people would intentionally begin a game they know they will referee too!!


This is Tasha skipping the bases after her home run:)

Seth wondering where to ball went???
Daniel also enjoying a home run:)

Horsin' Around

I find myself days and days from my last blog. Oh well. We've been playing. the kids have been out of school since lunch on Thursday. Carlton came home to visit this weekend. Valentines came and went (with lots of chocolate gracy biscuits and strawberries!). We went to the movies, the kids bought whatever they wanted for snack at the movie (something we never ever do...but now we have) with the money Grannie and Pa senit in thier Valentines. John works aat the theater and was blessed to get to wait on his brothers and sisters as they stood (seemingly forever) choosing. When John was home later he lameted over the length of time it took them (which was not really that long!). I smiled and apoligized, "I am sure all the other children always know what they want when they get to the counter." He frowned and quickly replied "No they don't". Like mom was crazy;) I smiled, "well, I guess the kids were pretty normal then?"

We have loved the weather, spending many many hours outside playing baseball and football and basketball. Not to mention digging holes and building playhouses, rideing bikes, skateboards, ripsticks and plain old running:) My floors bear the results of mud, dirt and sports drinks. I suppose I will get around to the diaster aid tomorrow.

I have to be in Memphis by 7;45 to visit with Zack. Calrton is going with me as we will head back to the ranch after Zack's visit. It promises to be a long day. Hopefully I will be able to make that trek and be home in time to pick up the kids from school.

Thursday we have our court date regarding Zack. We sat down last night with our Elders after church and talked about Zack and said prayers. We are so very saddened by the path we seemed to be forced onto. It isn't any one persons fault...unless you would like to back up 13.5 years and place full blame on a birth mom who made tragice mistakes, ones that profoundly impacted the life she carried within her. So very sad!! Please pray with us that Zack is safe, our family safe and all those who come into contact with Zack. This has come down to a simple (if it's simple) issue of safety. Zack being the greatest danger to himself as he could destroy his future so quickly!

This weekend Sutart is having the his clubs retreat at our house. I have no idea how many guys...20...30...

tonight my wonderful friends brought us an incredible dinner!! Pizza casserole, corn, garden fresh green beans, bread, cantelope, fruit salad, straweberry cake and brownies!! Needless to say...but i will anyway....we are stuffed:) Happily wonderfully stuffed!!

Valentines

Yesterday my children only went to school half a day (parent teacher being the other half), and don't go today or Monday (a nice long break!). So yesterday the kids took their Valentines and had parties. My very helpful duo of Tasha and Jacob went to Wal-Mart early to pick up candy for the teachers. Jacob is seen above with the candy. I sure and thankful for good helpers!! I am especially thankful for all our teachers!! They are surely worth their weight in candy!!

Box contest:)

Every year the 4th grade classes at our elementary school has a Valentine box contest. This year I have two 4th graders, Daniel and Ryan. Both very different although both are really good guys. Above are pictures of their efforts:)

Matilyn:)

My baby brother lives way way way up in the UP of Michigan. SO very far from home:) Yet so very close to his sweet wife Katie's family. Last night was the first time we had been able to see Matilyn in person....what a doll:) She is so beautiful and has such a sweet disposition. Sandy and her family came to eat and play with us. Sandy also brought my Sarah and her room mate Stephanie. It was a very nice night!!

Finding blessings....

Don't you love it when you find a blessing that you didn't expect? I sure do. it happened to me yesterday. I was sitting in church Sunday morning, very happy to be there, when I opened the Bible that was tucked in my church bag.... I realized I didn't know whose it was, usually I can spot each child's Bible , but this was unknown to me. I opened it to the "To: From: On:" page expecting to find it not belonging to a Smotherman....But read: "To: Carlton From: Doug". It is really rare to find a Bible at my house that is not mom and dad, unless it is a First grade or Graduate Bible the church family gives to our children. Curious I flipped back to the inside cover and that is where I found this blessing. A blessing in the form of a note to a brother. I was so very impressed and so very proud....this is what it said:

Hey man, You have been doin good this year and I can see you growing in Christ day by day. Use this Bible for Gods will.
Love always,
Doug Sams

I never knew. An act without praise or glory. Something freely given...love and respect! Even a greater blessing! Obviously it doesn't mean quiet as much to Carlton, he didn't take it with him. But to me? Priceless!! A blessing.

The picture above is of Doug on his way out the door to the Sub Deb Valentine Dance Saturday night.. He went with my sweet friend Leslie's daughter and she took the real pictures for me...when I get them I will have to post one:)

Senior night

Friday night was Senior night and we had two great Seniors who were honored. Joseph has played basketball all 4 years and Doug has run cross country. What a blessing these guys are to us:)

Three games in a row

This morning we had three basketball games. All my teams played. Scott had to work, so me and my entourage watched games:) Its a beautiful day here!! Those who did not do their chores early are hurrying to finish up so they can play outside. I actually saw people in shorts and flip flops!! We aren't really ready to break out the flip flops...but it sure is nice:)

Re-routing

Re-routing. Isn't life alot about change? The roads we travel or ever changing.....they swerve, have straight aways, mountains, long nice cruise control moments and lots of start and stops. No road is truly ever the same, although so many feel familiar.

Parenting is much the same to me....and much different. Different because my crew is different. To one child a path might be a mountain and to another a straight away. I find myself stopping at intersections I have never stopped at before. This morning? This morning I had a child who lied, was then hateful and then disrespectful. I brought that child back home with me after my school route and sat down on the couch for a long talk.

You know those talks we are sometimes forced to have with our children? I had the "these are your strengths" and "these are your weaknesses". It was harsh....but only because the choices this child is making are harsh. It seems that child's road is currently a lot of stops and starts....until they START moving on!

I had another child who is traveling seemingly right down the middle of the road and I was thinking the road was smooth and easy! The ROAD is...but that child is apparently throwing trash out the window. Polluting the world. And from the middle of the road?? I so so did not see that one coming.

I have another child who in their anxiousness to get to their destination is plowing people down! That's no way to navigate. SO I have "navigation" talks.

And yet another .....well, I think you likely realize that the roads running through my house are crazy enough to have Rand McNally raving:)

Reverse should be permanently etched in my mind. Back up and go again. This morning I sat in my van at school while a dear teacher and friend talked about an issue she has with a child. Frustration evident, I told her (and I sure did mean it) that as I have grown old I've learned that I make mistakes. It's not nearly as hard to be humble as it was when I was 25. I KNOW I fail. I know I have to re-route myself. It's so much easier as I look at the "Big picture".

I have another child who was disrespectful to me, in a big way, and I refused to grant a privilege until I had a sincere apology. It came. It was sincere. As I think about it, I believe that child expected me to apologize as well. I do when I am wrong. In this case? It was pure disrespect on child's part. I am sorry. But not for being the mother. I am due respect.

I've always liked to be open, I like to think I can change my mind about my opinion. But, the conversation HAS TO BE respectful. I loss my temper. It happens. Apparently people really think I don't....humm...ask any child of mine. Even Jesus got angry. After the mad child walked away, Chelsea who was home, was very angry, voicing her opinion about such talk. What do I say? NEVER (and I can use that word...it is not a thinking error!)...NEVER has Chelsea ever done anything like that. Disrespect is NOT a mountain for Chelsea...she does not have to re-route her thoughts...she has it. I realize to some it may come easier, personalities are calmer....but regardless....respect is not negotiable. I can say that I have never felt as embarrassed for my child's behavior as I did when Chelsea said "You never would have allowed me to talk that way to you!!". I never had to worry about that. It's a respect thing. Some people feel, un-justifiably, that they can do and say whatever they wish. That child felt they were entitled to use that language....a very false sense of entitlement at that! Those words are always etched in my heart.

I say all that....not for my bad-mouthing child....but for ME. Every event in my life brings me to know and understand my Gods love for ME. I pray that my life, that my service, that my WORDS, never be such that they bring sorrow and disappointment to God!! Parenting is humbling. Parenting is exalting. Parenting is sweet. Parenting is God-given. I know that there is not a single issue I deal with that my God has not dealt with....He always understands!

Friendliest

This picture along with the following note came in the mail to Caleb:



Caleb,

Congratulations on your selection of "Friendliest", especially being voted this honor by your peers.

You know that this is a family characteristic. I was voted this same honor 47 years ago.

We just want you to know that we are proud of you.

Papa & Clara Ruth


Pretty neat huh?

Seth's basketball team

Seth is loving basketball. He, being the youngest, is strangely enough for the Smotherman family the ONLY Smotherman on his team. He does have a big brother coaching;) So he is not too lonely!

A day...

I am behind on blogging. It happens. I have been so busy. Well, frankly I seem to always be busy:) Although I am co-teaching a ladies class on Wednesday night at church and I seem to spend my extra minutes with my face in a book or studying. I really should do that ALL the time, but then I would have no blog. So I need to squeeze in moderation.

This morning I was up at little before 5am. I switched laundry over and put some away. I made sure everyone had clean everything and then got out a poster board, waking Mary right before 6am. I got her working on coloring her water cycle and was out the door. I jumped in the very cold white van to find it dead. I went back in the house aggravated that in all the time I was up I had not tried to start the van before leaving. I got in the green van to go only to realize I needed gas(I could not have made it all the way to Memphis). I was away late. I did make it to my appointment 3 minutes early:) My appointment was a family session with Zack, seen above. SO SO SO sad this situation! He has so many losses and not enough gains. I usually do a face session and then a phone session, this week we turned around and did another face session (two in a row) as we felt Zack needed it. We talked about the future and while it is still very uncertain it was good for Zack.

I did run in Barnes and Noble and managed to grab a book. It caught my attention with it's snappy title "Have a New Kid by Friday. How to Change your child Attitude, Behavior and Character in 5 days". I might be sharing some with you when I get it finished.. I HOPE I am ...hopes its that good. But, even my Pollyanna heart knows if it sounds too good to be true?? Ya know the rest!! We'll see:)


The picture above is a terrible one of Caleb(I am sure he will be so happy with me) but it is to show my fuzzy headed big guy:) He will not remain this way for too very long. He spent the last two days signing papers, taking the ASVAB and going through the physical requirements. He is now officially signed with the ARMY. People always say "I know you're so upset." I wonder how they know that since I know I am NOT upset. I, and Scott, are very proud of Caleb and his decision! He is making some very sound choices that will impact his future, we feel, very positively.

Caleb (left) and Doug(right) are both Seniors(as seen below). They also were both named Class Favorites...Caleb was voted "Friendliest" and Doug was voted "Most Courteous". I am so proud of them. What great honors! I know it's neat to be craziest and some silly favorites, but as a mom? I am so tickled that my guys have these honors:)



Also below is a picture of Doug and Seth. Doug wanted to ask a special girl to prom. She loves sweet tarts and he really worked hard trying to figure out a special way t ask her. So, he bought roses, and filled the vase with sweet tarts instead of water and wrote this fun note to her:

Roses are Red,
Sweet tarts are great,
I'd be happy,
If you'd be my date?

Doug then enlisted Seth to be his delivery boy. Seth was sporting a handmade shirt (by brother Doug) that said, "Doug Sams Spokesperson". LOL It was sweet and she did say yes:)

Jacob's baby is growing!

Mom's favorites....Jacob sure does love him:)

Grinning!


Jacob's pride and joy, Bronte' is still growing. Bronte' is months(2 months) away from his first birthday. What a big baby! He is such a sweet baby he encouraged us all to add Trinity. A very sound testimony to the "Not all babies are sweet and good, but all are beautiful blessings" line of thought. Trinity is beautiful, but she isn't good or sweet. lol

Bronte came inside last night and sat with Jacob in front of the fireplace and I took these...he sure is growing. Remember here and here and here?